Baby-exerciser



0. C. SMITH.

BABY EXERCISER.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 12. 1919.

Patented Nov. 11, 1919.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

I N V EN TOR. C 77/74 W1 TNESSES W A TTORNE Y.

0. C. SMITH BABY EXERCISER.

APPLICATION map MAR. 12. I919.

Patented Nbv. 11, 1919.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2- WITNESSES OTTO CHAR-LES SMITH, 0F GREENVILLE, PENNSYLVANIA.

BABY-EXERCISEB.

reenter.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 11, 1919.

Application filed March 12,1919. Serial No. 282,083.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, OTTO C. SMITH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Greenville, in the county of Mercer and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Baby- Exercisers, of which the following is a speci-. fication.

This invention relates to means for lessening the care required in the rearing of infants and to insure freedom of movement so that the child may develop and at the same time obtain exercise and learn to walk and care for itself in a measure. The invention aims. to provide a device which is mounted upon wheels and adapted to receive the child and enable it to have a certain freedom of movement in the exercise of its limbs whereby to strengthen and develop the lower limbs and whichis so constructed as to prevent injury to thechild and yet enable it to move in any desired direction, the device being relatively light so as to be easily manipulated and of such formation as to prevent injury to the child.

The drawings illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention. However, it is to be understood that in adapting the same to meet different conditions, various changes in the form, proportion, and minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the nature of the invention as claimed hereinafter.

Referring to the accompanying drawings,

Figure 1 is a side view of a device or perambulator embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view thereof.

Fig. 3 is a front view partly in section.

Fig. 1 is a rear view.

Fig. 5 is a view of the device as seen from the bottom.

Corresponding and like partsare referred to in the following description and indicated in the several views of the drawings by like reference characters.

The perambulator comprises a seat board 1 which is cut out at its forward edge upon opposite sides of a medial line, as indicated at 2, said cut-out portions being adapted to receive the lower limbs of the infant. A narrow projection 3 extends forwardly from the seat board 1 and preferably forms a part thereof and is adapted to pass "between the limbs of the infant and its forward end receives a caster wheel 4. The rojection 3 terminates at its forward on in an expanded portion 5 which is apertured to receive the stem 6 of the frame 7 in which is journaled the caster wheel 4. The frame p is cut out at its lower edge at a medial point,

as indicated at 9 to provide clearance for the feet of the child and prevent the part 8 from touching or striking the heels of the baby when moving the device forwardly. Short axles 10 are secured to the lower edge of the cross piece 8 upon opposite sides of the cutaway portion 9, the inner ends of the axles being beveled to provide ample space, as indicated most clearly in Figs. 3 and 4. Wheels 11 are mounted upon the arms of the axles 10. Legs 12 are secured to side portions of the seat board and flare outwardly and incline forwardly. Each of the legs 12 is formed with an extension 13 which is disposed longitudinally of the seat board and has its rearend secured to the end portion of the cross piece 8, thereby strengthening and bracing the cross piece and the legs. The legs 12 in conjunction with the wheels 11 prevent the toppling over of the device in the event of the child leaning over the side of the perambulator.

' Side pieces 14 are secured to edge portions of the seat board 1 and are upwardly flared and are connected at their rear ends by means of a back 15 which is secured at its lower edge to the rear portion of the seat board. A cross bar 16 connects the upper forward corner portions of the side pieces 14 and serves to retain the child when placed in the peramlbulator. It is to be understood that the parts may be of natural finish or upholstered according to the finish and cost of the article.

A steering post 17 is adapted to be secured to the stem 6 and is provided at its upper end with a handle bar 18 in the opposite ends of which are formed openings 19 to receive the fingers of the child when grasping the handle bar, thereby preventing injury to the fingers by striking an object such as a chair, wall or article of furniture. By having the steering post 17 detachably connected with the stem 6 a play board, tray or other device may be attached to the stem 6 without interfering with the steering of the article. A washer 20 is placed upon the lower portion of the stem 6 below the expanded portion 5 of the projection 3 and a washer 21 is placed upon the stem 6 and is securedfthereto by apin or other fastening 22 passing therethrough and through the stem 6. The steering post 17 may be secured to the upper end of the stem 6 and washer 21 in any manner either by frictional engagement or by screws or like detachablefastenings so that the steering post may be removed when desired.

A peran'ibulator constructed substantially as herein set forth may be formed entirely of wood although this is not essential and affords a safe chair for receiving an infant and enables the baby to have a freedom of movement without running the risk of injury, thereby relieving the parent of the care ordinarily required in the rearing of infants. Moreover the child is free to exercise and to move about, the perambulator readily conforming to any direction the child may desire to move, this being due to the caster effect ofthe front wheel 4, the axle of which is set out of line with the axis of the steering post. The toppling over of thedevice is guarded against by means of the legs 12 and the latter are a trifle short so as not to touch the floor or surface and impede the n'ioven'ients of the device but of suflicient length to support the article in the event of its tilting laterally.

The foregoing description and the drawings have reference to what may be.considered the preferred, or approved formof my invention. It is to be understood that I may make such changes in construction and arrangement and combination of parts, materials, dimensions, et cetera, as may prove expedient and fall within the scope of the appended claim.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is A pe'rambulator, comprising a seat board having a relatively narrow forward projection and cut-out portions in its front edge at the sides of said projection, a back and sides secured to the seat board, a cross bar connecting the upper forward corners of the sides, a frame journaled vertically in said projection of the seat board, a caster wheel mounted in the frame, a steering post having connection with the frame, a rear cross piece having its lower edge out out intermediate of its ends, axles secured to the lower edge of the cross piece upon opposite sides of the cutaway portion, Wheels mounted upon the arms of the axles and legs having rear extensions secured to side portions of the seat board and the end portions of the said cross bar.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

OTTO CHARLES SMITH.

Witnesses FREE. D. BECKMAN, ALBERT G. VESPER. 

